Sources of Grant Aid: Private Institutions

In 2015-16, low-income students enrolled full time at private nonprofit four-year colleges and universities received 63% of their total grant aid from their institutions—an average of $16,590 per student out of a total of $26,220 of grant aid from all sources.

Students from families with incomes of $120,000 or higher received 85% of their total grant aid from their institutions—an average of $13,510 per student out of a total of $15,860.

Average total grant aid for independent students at private nonprofit institutions was only about 60% of the average amount received by dependent students in 2015-16. Independent students received more funding from federal grants including aid to veterans and the military, but less from states, from private sources and employers and, particularly, from institutions.

In 2015-16, full-time students at for-profit institutions received 42% of their grant aid from federal nonmilitary grants, 33% from veterans and military grants, and 15% from their institutions.

Average institutional grant aid per student in the for-profit sector ranged from $910 for independent students and $1,920 for dependent students from families with incomes below $35,000 to $2,920 for those with incomes between $70,000 and $120,000.

In 2015-16, very selective private nonprofit four-year institutions awarded 73% of their full-time domestic students an average of $24,340 in grant aid—an average of $17,670 per student. Forty-five percent of dependent students from families with incomes of $120,000 or more enrolled in the private nonprofit sector attended these very selective institutions, as did 25% to 30% of those from lower-income families and 21% of independent students. (Selectivity is defined by NPSAS based on the share of students admitted and SAT®/ACT scores.)

Minimally selective and open admission four-year private nonprofit institutions awarded 43% of their full-time students an average of $11,450 in grant aid—an average of $4,910 per student. Four percent of dependent students from families with incomes of $120,000 or more enrolled in the private nonprofit sector attended these institutions, compared with 20% of those from the lowest-income families and 34% of independent students in this sector.